Contax II, need help with recognizing rarity
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Dralowid
Michael
My understanding is that A. is simply the year prefix. In this case 1936 as you say. Others will give their opinion as to value.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
According to the Kuc book there were only 2,000 Contaxes made with the A prefix, so it's rare in that regard. But I don't think that results in greater value than for any other Contax II or III.
classictr
Newbie
Thank you.
The lens is a wartime Sonnar, 5cm F1.5. Does it have a red "T" on the namering?
The wartime Sonnars are among the finest performers.
The wartime Sonnars are among the finest performers.
classictr
Newbie
I does have T. Is it really a wartime Sonnar? I thought it's 1959-1961.
Attachments
dexdog
Veteran
Hartmut Thiele's book of CZJ lenses shows that records for 5cm f1.5 Sonnars for serial numbers 2789301 to 2790300 are missing. Adjacent ranges of serial numbers suggest that the lens was probably produced in late 1941
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
"According to the excellent "benchmarks" book by Foto Saga in France, ISBN 2-906840-06-8, the first letter before the serial number denotes a block of 99,999 serial numbers -- not all of which were always issued: Z 1935/6, A 1936, B 1936, C 1936/7, D 1937, E 1937, F 1937/8, G 1938, J 1938/9, K 1939, L 1939, M 1940/42, N 1941/3. Keep in mind the code was also used for other Zeiss cameras, so these codes do not indicate total Contax production."
Sent to me from Henry Sherer
Sent to me from Henry Sherer
This is a Wartime Sonnar. The West German 50mm F1.5 Sonnars started the Serial Numbers over.
The Carl Zeiss Jena Serial numbers- different dates, and yours is a wartime lens.
markjwyatt
Well-known
Carl Zeiss Jena indicates it was made in the East. Most Post War were just Carl Zeiss (intially) or Carl Zeiss Optron, made in Oberkochen. I think Carl Zeiss Jena did continue making lenses post-war, but were rarer for the Contax.
The 5cm F2 and 5cm F1.5 post-war Sonnars are different designs from the wartime lenses. SN of the new design is around the 3Million mark.
The lens shown here was made during the war.
furcafe
Veteran
CZJ definitely made Contax RF lenses after the war. Indeed, Zeiss Ikon introduced the Contax IIa/IIIa before they had reestablished lens works at Oberkochen, so many early IIa/IIIas were sold with CZJ lenses. Even after Oberkochen was up to speed, the CZJ lenses were cheaper & a popular budget alternative to Zeiss-Opton/CZ glass, especially here in the U.S. Most of the CZJ Contax lenses were coated versions of the pre-WWII designs in alloy barrels, sort of a continuation of wartime production, but they also made some excellent lenses that were never produced in the West, like the 3.5cm/2.8 Biometar.
Jena and Oberkochen, or just Oberkochen, Brian?
The Post War Jena 5cm F2 and 5cm F1.5 are both different from the wartime versions. Also, of course, the West German 50mm F2 and 50mm F1.5 are different from the Jena wartime versions.
I have all of them. I need a Second Sonnar article, will be coming. Work has been very busy.
I have all of them. I need a Second Sonnar article, will be coming. Work has been very busy.
ZivcoPhoto
Well-known
I have a 50mm F2 CZJ with serial number 310XXXX which Skyllaney calls a Coburg Sonnar, made after Zeiss fled Jena but before they settled in Oberkochen. It has red T and East German glass. Very nice results with this glass. Not quite, mechanically as the final design Zeiss settled on.
Thank you, Brian. No pressure from me. But will look forward to reading whatever more you have to say about the Sonnars in due course.
Cheers,
Brett
Wolkengrau
Newbie
Hello, I am digging up this topic because I am really curious about the shutter button. Does anyone know which model it is ? Also, the winding knob looks very unique, is it a feature of the early models ?
dexdog
Veteran
According to Hans-Jurgen Kuc's On trail of the contax. Volume 1, the early A series cameras had the vertical-only knurling on the winding knob like the one in the first post. The thing on top of the shutter is most likely an after-market "soft release". I dont know of any such accessory made by Zeiss Ikon.
Muggins
Junk magnet
I agree, whatever it is it is screwed into a shutter release that matches my Contax III of much the same vintage. I don't know what it is or who made it, but it's obviously period and matches the camera's style rather well.
Wolkengrau
Newbie
I wish this book was available to me. Everywhere, I see it unavailable since long, it seems to be a rarity and a brilliant ressource on the matter. Many thanks for the answers, I will keep on searching for this "soft release" and keep you updated if I find anything. 🙂
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